and provide a variety of materials for Support Group Leaders from the April 2007 workshops in Lansing and Germfask, a site assessment form for all Support Groups, a summary of Michigan state-level IBA Criteria, and other documents. These pages are in the process of being built, and there will be many additions to come. So please check back often, and contact Caleb (cputnam@audubon.org) with any questions.

The lower Detroit River and Lake Erie Metropark will be publicly recognized as Important Bird Areas on 15 Sep 2007 at the renowned HawkFest festival at Lake Erie Metropark. The ceremony, which will take place at 4 PM, will include speeches by area dignitaries and leaders, and a ribbon-cutting. Hawk migration will be in full swing, and attendees can expect to see large numbers of migrating raptors (weather permitting, of course) before and after the ceremony. We hope to see you there!

On 19 May 2007, as part of the Tawas Point Birding Festival, Tawas Point State Park & Tawas Bay were recognized as an IBA. The site was recognized not for its significance to birding, but to bird conservation. In particular, the site is a valuable concentration point for thousands of migrating waterbirds, shorebirds, and landbirds. Detailed site accounts (for this and the other 21 IBAs) are available at Audubon's IBA Program website.

Representatives in attendance of the ceremony included State Representative Joel Sheltrown (103rd District), Beverly Bodem (representing State Senator Tony Stamas), Michigan DNR staff Charles Allen and Anna Sylvester, and former Michigan Audubon Society President Peg Ridgway. An IBA sign was erected near the Tawas Point lighthouse during the ribbon-cutting.From left to right: Charles Allen, Beverly Bodem (assistant to State Senator Tony Stamas), Caleb Putnam, Peg Ridgway, State Representative Joel Sheltrown, and Anna Sylvester.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Welcome to the Michigan Important Bird Area Program blog! This program is here to identify and protect the places of highest importance to wild bird conservation, and we need your help. The program is headed by a coalition of Audubon, Michigan Audubon Society, Detroit Audubon Society, and Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Please visit often as there will be frequent updates. While you're at it, please visit our official website at Audubon: